Fractional Retail Head of Technology Service

Retail technology rarely fails because of a single system. It fails when ecommerce, stores, ERP, fulfilment and integrations evolve independently, and no one owns how technology decisions are made and delivered day to day.

The Fractional Retail Head of Technology Service from Cogent2 provides senior, part time technology leadership for retailers operating across ecommerce and physical stores. This role sits below a CTO but above delivery teams, owning day-to-day technology direction, architectural decisions and execution quality across the retail tech stack.

It is designed for retailers that need strong technical ownership and delivery discipline, without the overhead of a full-time CTO. The focus is clarity, consistency and confidence in retail technology execution.

Cogent2’s Fractional Retail Heads of Technology work inside the business, leading technical decisions across platforms and partners. Alongside leadership, you gain access to a joined-up technical and integration team that can execute, refine and optimise what is defined at a leadership level.

When to hire a Fractional Retail Head Of Technology

This service is particularly well suited to retailers that:

• Operate across ecommerce and physical retail

• Run complex stacks spanning ERP, POS, ecommerce and fulfilment

• Lack clear ownership of retail technology decisions

• Experience inconsistent delivery from agencies or suppliers

• Need senior technology leadership on a part time basis

Hiring a Fractional Retail Head of Technology brings control, accountability and structure to retail technology delivery.

What the service delivers

Cogent2 Fractional Retail Heads of Technology operate with a strong execution and governance focus.

This typically includes:

• Acting as a Fractional and Part Time Retail Head of Technology

• Owning retail system architecture and technical standards

• Governing how ecommerce, POS and ERP platforms are used

• Leading internal teams, agencies and technology partners

• Improving delivery discipline, testing and release processes

• Acting as a senior escalation point for retail technology issues

Because Cogent2 combines leadership with delivery capability, decisions turn into implemented improvements.

Retail technology architecture and ownership

Retail stacks often grow organically and become fragile.

The Fractional Retail Head of Technology Service focuses on:

• Designing a connected, scalable tech ecosystem across channels

• Preventing duplicated functionality and unnecessary complexity

• Aligning system design to how the retail business actually operates

• Improving data flow, visibility and reporting

• Ensuring technology supports future growth

The emphasis is practical architecture grounded in retail delivery experience.

Platform governance, optimisation and cost control

Retail technology decisions carry long-term operational impact.

Cogent2 Fractional Retail Heads of Technology help by:

• Governing change across retail platforms to reduce risk

• Controlling technical debt and system sprawl

• Reviewing platform usage, licences and costs

• Preventing fragile integrations and point-to-point fixes

• Ensuring enhancements deliver real operational value

This keeps retail technology reliable and cost effective.

Integration strategy and oversight

Retail systems only work when they are properly connected.

Cogent2 Fractional Retail Heads of Technology:

• Define integration strategy using iPaaS where appropriate

• Oversee integrations across ERP, ecommerce, POS and WMS

• Ensure clear ownership of data flows

• Improve reliability, performance and scalability

• Reduce operational risk caused by poor integration design

Integration decisions remain aligned to retail operational needs.

Cross-functional retail technology leadership

Retail technology touches every department.

Cogent2 Fractional Retail Heads of Technology work closely with:

• Ecommerce and trading teams

• Store operations and merchandising

• Finance and reporting

• Technology and integration specialists

This ensures technology decisions support the entire retail operation.

Programme leadership and technical stabilisation

Fractional Retail Heads of Technology are often engaged during periods of change.

This can include:

• Supporting retail replatforming or ERP change

• Stabilising underperforming technology delivery

• Improving execution ahead of peak trading

• Reducing technical and operational risk

• Protecting teams during complex retail change

Cogent2’s joined-up delivery capability allows issues to be resolved decisively.

Ongoing advisory and trusted technology leadership

Many clients retain this role as an ongoing senior technology partnership.

This can include:

• Acting as a sounding board for retail technology decisions

• Reviewing plans before development begins

• Supporting vendor and partner selection

• Helping leadership teams avoid costly retail tech mistakes

This model provides senior technology leadership without building permanent overhead.

The Cogent2 Difference

Cogent2 works alongside best-in-class retail platforms so our Fractional Heads of Technology can focus entirely on leadership, governance and execution quality. We do not sell software. We take ownership of how retail technology supports the wider business.

By combining Fractional Retail Head of Technology leadership with a joined-up technical team, Cogent2 removes the gap between retail technology strategy and reliable delivery.

Lead retail technology with confidence

Retail technology struggles when ownership is unclear.

Hire a Retail Head of Technology from Cogent2 on a Part Time, Fractional basis to bring structure, control and confidence to your retail technology function.